Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends making changes to the current structure of the modern apprenticeship programme and, if so, (a) what any such changes will be and (b) when they will take place, detailing the reasons behind its position on this matter.

Iain Gray: Modern apprenticeship (MA) frameworks are designed by business sectors through the network of Sector Skills Councils. The Executive has recently agreed with the major stakeholders involved in MAs that minimum levels of core skills should be included in MA frameworks. No other changes are planned.

Apprenticeships

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of young people left the modern apprenticeship programme without achieving any qualifications in each year since 1999, broken down by framework.

Iain Gray: The information requested is not recorded. It is possible for any modern apprentice to achieve some qualifications or elements of qualifications before leaving the programme.

Apprenticeships

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of people who left the modern apprenticeship programme have entered sustained employment in each year since 1999, broken down by framework.

Iain Gray: The information requested is not routinely recorded. The Executive's recent Review of Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland  (published in January 2002) indicated that of those surveyed, 85% of those completing their modern apprenticeship were still with the same employer two years after graduation, and 70% of modern apprentices in training intended to remain with their current employer.

Biodiversity

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Biodiversity Forum will report to it with a draft Biodiversity Strategy.

Allan Wilson: I have asked the Scottish Biodiversity Forum to report to me with a draft Biodiversity Strategy for Scotland at its next meeting in late February 2003.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which and what percentage of its publications from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance, broken down by department and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such references prior to publication.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Concessionary Travel

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authorities have sought additional resources to implement the national concessionary travel scheme because of anticipated shortfalls and, if so, how much each local authority has sought and what the estimated shortfall is.

Lewis Macdonald: Issues about the allocation of grant funding within the local government settlement are discussed with local authorities on a collective basis through COSLA. Following discussions with COSLA about the funding implications of implementing the enhanced concessionary travel arrangements from 30 September, the Executive agreed that an additional £5 million would be made available in the current financial year to be distributed on the basis of the existing GAE distribution formula, with a further £10 million earmarked in 2003-04 if required. These sums are in addition to the initial £20 million and £45 million made available in these respective financial years to fund these enhancements.

Education

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it ceased payments to Aberdeen City Council from 31 March 2002 in respect of the Education Action Plan.

Cathy Jamieson: Time limited support for Education Action Plans was provided under a special programme of the Excellence Fund to help local authorities to raise standards in schools facing major challenge. A total of £15 million was made available under the programme over the three financial years from 1999-2000 to 2001-02. Authorities were advised of this in Circular 8/98, which was issued by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department on 24 December 1998. Aberdeen City Council was one of 16 authorities which benefited under the three-year programme.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent classroom assistants have reduced teacher workloads.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has commissioned the Scottish Council for Research in Education to evaluate the Classroom Assistant Programme. An interim report published in September 2001 concluded that:

  most teachers perceive a reduction in the time they spent on preparing materials and resources;

  classroom assistants allow teachers to concentrate on teaching and planning;

  teachers are able to spend more time concentrating on individuals and groups while the classroom assistant deals other members of the class resolving minor problems and reducing interruptions of the teacher;

  a rekindling of a teacher’s enthusiasm for teaching where classroom assistants are deployed, and

  classroom assistants help to keep pupils on task and ensure their time is spent productively.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to assess the role of classroom assistants in schools.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has commissioned the Scottish Council for Research in Education to evaluate the classroom assistant programme. An interim report was published in September 2001 and the final report is expected to be published by the end of September 2002.

Ferry Services

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current situation is on P&O employees being transferred to Northlink Ferries with respect to Trade Union Protection of Employment legislation.

Lewis Macdonald: While P&O Scottish Ferries have taken the view that Trade Union Protection of Employment legislation (TUPE) applies, Northlink have taken the view that it does not. TUPE is a matter of law and only the courts can determine whether TUPE does or does not apply in this case.

Health

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust about clinical waste being left lying in public areas in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Malcolm Chisholm: While my officials have discussed this matter with North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, it is primarily a matter for the management of the trust and of Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI).

  The trust has acknowledged that the conditions at the GRI during the recent industrial action were, understandably, far from ideal. It has, however, advised that it is satisfied that the pictures that recently appeared in the media, and depicted clinical waste lying in corridors, were not a fair representation of conditions at the hospital and showed designated collection points.

Health

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Health and Safety Executive will have in investigating claims of clinical waste being left lying in public areas of Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to determine whether it should investigate incidents connected to NHS facilities, in line with its responsibilities in ensuring the health and safety of employees or members of the public under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

  I understand that the HSE contacted the Head of Health and Safety at the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust on 8 August, when the allegation appeared in the media that clinical waste was being left lying in public areas at Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI). On that occasion the HSE was satisfied that a visit to GRI was not necessary, although the trust and HSE will continue to liaise on a range of issues as is the case throughout NHS Scotland.

Health

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Health Care Supplies (SHS) and the Common Services Agency (CSA) ensure patient safety through the design of syringes used on the NHS; whether the SHS and the CSA have issued any guidance to NHS boards on the effectiveness of safety devices, and what representations it has made and to whom on this matter.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive Health Department published its report entitled Needlestick Injuries - Sharpen Your Awareness in May 2001. This recommended that the Medical Devices Agency, Health Services Advisory Committee, Health and Safety Executive, Chief Scientists Office and the UK Health Departments prepare a co-ordinated plan to test and evaluate safer devices and safer disposal methods. The Scottish Executive Health Department is currently funding £260,000 of practical projects aimed at reducing needlestick injury. Around eight NHS employers are involved in one project worth £116,000 which involves a series of evaluations of sharps safety devices in a variety of clinical settings.

  The Common Services Agency is involved with safer needles through its divisions, the Scottish Health Care Supplies and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. Scottish Health Care Supplies is involved in on-going discussions with the Medical Devices Agency and with manufacturers and suppliers, including the Sharps Injury Prevention Manufacturers Alliance. The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health is conducting a study into needlestick injuries. Its report is expected late next spring and will provide information on the proportion of injuries that could have been prevented by the use of safety devices.

Hospitals

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to resolve the current dispute between Sodexho and UNISON at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Malcolm Chisholm: The dispute was a matter between Sodexho and UNISON and has now been successfully resolved through a negotiated settlement undertaken and completed at local level.

Licensing of Taxis

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on the regulations to allow local authorities to license taxi and private hire car booking offices.

Peter Peacock: The Executive proposes to consult on the terms of regulations which will allow local authorities to license taxi and private hire car booking offices over the next few months.

National Lottery

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the equitable distribution of National Lottery funding.

Dr Elaine Murray: A consultation paper on lottery distribution policy, Review of Lottery Funding , was published jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 29 July for consultation until 30 October 2002. Section 3 of the consultation paper sets out issues involved in ensuring that funding is fairly distributed to all areas and communities across the UK.

  Responsibility for distributing proceeds from the National Lottery rests with the Lottery Distributing Bodies. In Scotland, the lottery distributors take part in joint activities, such as the publication of a joint leaflet and maintaining a web portal, to provide information on funding opportunities. All Scottish lottery distributors are taking steps to ensure the equitable distribution of their awards. For example, the Fair Share Lottery Initiative was launched in April 2002 and is a joint New Opportunities Fund and community fund UK-wide initiative targeting disadvantaged areas across Britain; resources of £22 million over three years are being made available, and have been targeted to six disadvantaged areas in Scotland.

  The Scottish Executive is providing £625,000 over two years for the Kickstart programme which employs development officers who work across area-based social inclusion partnerships to help build the knowledge and skills base of local voluntary and community groups to ensure that they can access funding, including lottery funding.

Public Transport

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the statement by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) in Interchange (May 2002), that SPT receives around 50% less funding than the six passenger transport authorities in England.

Lewis Macdonald: The funding of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority is intended to allow it to meet its responsibilities, and is kept under review.

Road Accidents

Mr Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26838 by Lewis Macdonald on 1 July 2002, whether it has any plans to (a) investigate the causes of the number of road injury accidents on the A725 in the South Lanarkshire Council area identified in the STATS 19 returns for 2000-01 and (b) introduce safety measures to reduce the number of accidents on the A725.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has instructed Amey Highways to investigate the causes of the accidents on the A725 trunk road in the South Lanarkshire Council area highlighted in the STATS 19 returns for 2000-01. Remedial measures will be introduced if any causes are identified as being attributable to the design or condition of the road.

Road Accidents

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents occurred on the Baljaffrey to Carbeth stretches of the A809 in 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage only accidents.

  During 2001, there were eight injury road accidents identified in the STATS 19 returns as occurring on the A809 between the junction with the B8050 and the junction with the B821.

  It should be noted that this figure is based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. It may differ from any figure which the local authority would provide now, because it does not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon its knowledge of the road and area concerned.

Road Accidents

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents occurred on the (a) Carbeth to Blanefield stretch of the B821, (b) Craigmaddie to Bardowie road, near Milngavie, (c) Bardowie to Milngavie stretch of the A807, (d) Bardowie to Bearsden stretch of the B8049, (e) Craigmaddie to Baldernock to Milngavie Road and Mugdock to Milngavie road past Mugdock Country Park in each of the last five years.

Lewis Macdonald: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured; they do not cover damage only accidents.

  The following table gives the numbers of injury road accidents, in the five years 1997 to 2001 inclusive, which were identified in the STATS 19 returns as occurring on the:

  (a) Carbeth to Blanefield stretch of the B821, from its junction with the A809 to its junction with the A81;

  (b) Craigmaddie to Bardowie road, from its junction with the A81 to its junction with the A807;

  (c) Bardowie to Milngavie stretch of the A807, from its junction with the Bardowie to Craigmaddie road to its junction with the A81;

  (d) Bardowie to Bearsden stretch of the B8049, from its junction with the A807 to its junction with the A81;

  (e) Craigmaddie to Baldernock to Milngavie Road, from its junction with the A81 at Craigmaddie to its junction with the Baldernock to Bardowie road and thence to its junction with the A81 at Milngavie, and

  (f) Mugdock to Milngavie road, from its junction with Old Mugdock Road to its junction with Drumclog Avenue, Milngavie.

  It should be noted that the statistics given are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon its knowledge of the road and area concerned.

  Number of Injury Road Accidents

  


Year 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Carbeth to Blanefield stretch of the B821, from its junction 
  with the A809 to its junction with the A81 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  



Craigmaddie to Bardowie road, from its junction with the 
  A81 to its junction with the A807 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

2 
  



Bardowie to Milngavie stretch of the A807, from its junction 
  with the Bardowie to Craigmaddie road to its junction with 
  the A81 
  

5 
  

3 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  



Bardowie to Bearsden stretch of the B8049, from its junction 
  with the A807 to its junction with the A81 
  

3 
  

5 
  

4 
  

1 
  

6 
  



Craigmaddie to Baldernock to Milngavie road, from its junction 
  with the A81 at Craigmaddie to its junction with the Baldernock 
  to Bardowie road and thence to its junction with the A81 
  at Milngavie 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  



Mugdock to Milngavie road from its junction with Old Mugdock 
  Road to its junction with Drumclog Avenue, Milngavie 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27227 by Lewis Macdonald on 26 July 2002, whether it had any power to insist on the provision of better pensions in the trunk roads maintenance contracts and, if so, under what section of (a) the Scotland Act or (b) any other legislation any such powers were conveyed.

Lewis Macdonald: There were no legislative powers to allow the Scottish Executive to insist on the provision of better pension rights on the trunk road maintenance contracts.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement regarding payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension fund and what sum will be paid out.

Lewis Macdonald: I announced on 12 August 2002 that an additional £8 million had been secured by Scottish ministers, bringing the total amount to be distributed to £126 million, and that letters were being sent to eligible former Scottish Transport pension scheme members to initiate the payment process.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension fund surplus will be made in full to the widows of fund contributors and whether it will act upon the recommendations of the Petitions Committee made at its meeting on 25 June 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to my letter to the Convener of the Scottish Public Petitions Committee dated 9 August 2002, a copy of which I understand has been sent to the member.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension fund surplus will be made before the end of August 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Public Pensions Agency began making payments on 31 August 2002.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the full amount of the surplus of the Scottish Transport Group pension fund will be paid out this year or whether 20% of the fund is to be retained until 2003.

Lewis Macdonald: An initial payment representing most of the overall total will be made to identified beneficiaries this financial year, with the remaining amount paid in the next financial year once the details of all those who are eligible are known.

Sport

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that grants made by  sportscotland are used for the purposes set out in the original application.

Dr Elaine Murray: Sportscotland’s Lottery Sports Fund awards are monitored by case officers for revenue awards or by project managers for capital awards to ensure they are used for the purposes set out in the original application. In addition, there is a standard post completion monitoring of capital projects involving both questionnaires and site visits.

  Other awards, made from sportscotland’s Exchequer funds, are monitored by budget holders which includes checking detailed expenditure reports and receipted invoices. For Development Grant Aid to Scottish Governing Bodies of sport, the Grants Officer reviews the body’s annual accounts to ensure the grant was used for the purposes intended and the Development Officer for that sport also provides a review document which forms part of the application for the following year.

Sport

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken against recipients of grants from  sportscotland who are found to have used the grant for purposes other than, or counter to, those set out in the original application.

Dr Elaine Murray: In line with conditions attached to Lottery Fund Awards, this can vary from awards being repaid in part or in full and future payments being stopped. For grants paid from Exchequer monies,  sportscotland’s first step would be to write requesting repayment and thereafter normal follow up procedures to confirm receipt of repayment would apply.

  If fraud were suspected the matter would be referred to the police.

Sport

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many recipients of grants from  sportscotland have been found to have used the grant for purposes other, or counter to, those set out in the original application in each of the last three years.

Dr Elaine Murray: There have been no such cases under the lottery programmes and 18 cases under Exchequer programmes (nine in 1999-2000, four in 2000-01 and five in 2001-02).

Sport

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to encourage greater co-operation between schools and community sports clubs, with particular reference to the provision of facilities.

Dr Elaine Murray: There are a number of initiatives under way which actively encourage closer links between schools and their local communities. These include the School Sports Co-ordinator Programme, New Community Schools, the school and community strand of the Lottery Sports Fund Sports Facilities Programme and the New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport in Schools Programme. Local authorities and schools have responsibility to determine the nature of their relationship with the wider community including community sports clubs.

Waste Management

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being made for the implementation of the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is liaising with the UK Government and other devolved administrations on how best to implement the draft directive. We will not be able to announce any proposals until the terms of the draft directive have been finalised, and industry and other interests will be consulted fully before any new measures are introduced.

Water Supply

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for a new visitor carpark at the proposed new water treatment extension to the Milngavie Reservoir.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The chief executive’s response is:

  There is no plan to incorporate visitor car parking at the proposed new water treatment plant. However, Scottish Water is committed to working with East Dunbartonshire Council and other local interest groups to improve public access to the existing reservoir. This may include additional parking.

Water Supply

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it retains a veto over possible changes to the local structure plan should the new treatment extension to the Milngavie Reservoir go ahead.

Hugh Henry: Any alteration to policies contained in the local plan would require to go through a public consultation exercise and possible public local inquiry before being submitted to the Scottish ministers for their consideration prior to adoption. The Scottish ministers would consider intervening only in the most exceptional circumstances, for example where major provisions of a plan were clearly incompatible with a well established national policy, or where there was clear evidence of a significant failure to comply with the proper procedures in drawing up a plan.

Water Supply

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make the reports by Greater Glasgow Health Board and Scottish Water into the cryptosporidium outbreak at Milngavie Reservoir publicly available.

Malcolm Chisholm: Both NHS Greater Glasgow and Scottish Water were involved in the Incident Control Team (ICT) established to manage matters relating to the detection of cryptosporidium in mains water from Mugdock treatment works. The Chairman of the ICT has been asked to complete the team’s report, if at all possible, by two weeks after its final meeting. It is the intention to make this report publicly available.